The severity of drought conditions continued to ease across portions of South Texas during the month of October, due to a change in the upper level pattern and impacts from El Nino producing beneficial rainfall across the region. Most locations along and northeast of Interstate 37 experienced near to above normal rainfall for the month of October. Victoria received 6.37 of rainfall, which was 150% of normal rainfall for October. However the Corpus Christi International Airport received 2.43 of rainfall, only 62% of normal rainfall for October.
By the end of October, drought severity had eased across the Northern Coastal Bend and Victoria Crossroads, as well as portions of the Rio Grande Plains. By the end of October Exceptional drought conditions were occurring across Nueces, northern Kleberg, and north-central Jim Wells counties. Extreme drought conditions were observed across San Patricio, southern Aransas, southern Jim Wells, and Duval counties. Severe drought conditions were observed across Calhoun, Refugio, northern Aransas, Goliad, Bee, Live Oak, and eastern McMullen counties. Moderate drought conditions were occurring across Victoria, southeast Webb, and western McMullen counties. The remainder of Webb county as well as most of La Salle county were classified as Abnormally Dry by the end of October. (per the U.S. Drought Monitor: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html)
Soil moisture for agricultural concerns continued to improve over the month of October. The rain improved pasture growth and supplemental feeding of hay for livestock continued to decline. The fire danger remained low during the month.
Reservoir levels for the Corpus Christi and Victoria water supply either rose or remained nearly steady during the month. Choke Canyon Reservoir was near 69% capacity and Lake Corpus Christi near 30% capacity by the end of the month. Heavy rainfall northeast of Interstate 37 also resulted in river flooding along the Guadalupe and San Antonio Rivers.

Event Narrative

The severity of drought conditions continued to ease across portions of South Texas during the month of October, due to a change in the upper level pattern and impacts from El Nino producing beneficial rainfall across the region. Most locations along and northeast of Interstate 37 experienced near to above normal rainfall for the month of October. Victoria received 6.37 of rainfall, which was 150% of normal rainfall for October. However the Corpus Christi International Airport received 2.43 of rainfall, only 62% of normal rainfall for October.
By the end of October, drought severity had eased across the Northern Coastal Bend and Victoria Crossroads, as well as portions of the Rio Grande Plains. By the end of October Exceptional drought conditions were occurring across Nueces, northern Kleberg, and north-central Jim Wells counties. Extreme drought conditions were observed across San Patricio, southern Aransas, southern Jim Wells, and Duval counties. Severe drought conditions were observed across Calhoun, Refugio, northern Aransas, Goliad, Bee, Live Oak, and eastern McMullen counties. Moderate drought conditions were occurring across Victoria, southeast Webb, and western McMullen counties. The remainder of Webb county as well as most of La Salle county were classified as Abnormally Dry by the end of October. (per the U.S. Drought Monitor: http://www.drought.unl.edu/dm/monitor.html)
Soil moisture for agricultural concerns continued to improve over the month of October. The rain improved pasture growth and supplemental feeding of hay for livestock continued to decline. The fire danger remained low during the month.
Reservoir levels for the Corpus Christi and Victoria water supply either rose or remained nearly steady during the month. Choke Canyon Reservoir was near 69% capacity and Lake Corpus Christi near 30% capacity by the end of the month. Heavy rainfall northeast of Interstate 37 also resulted in river flooding along the Guadalupe and San Antonio Rivers.